Toy cannon.



Z. E. HOUSE.

TOY CANNON.

APPLICATION 'man 1AN.28. |915.

' Patented June 1, 1915.

farro/mns ZACHARIAH E. HOUSE, OF CASS LAKE, MINNESOTA.

TOY CANNON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Application led January 28, 1915. Serial No.'4,869.

To all whom 'it may concern a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cass Lake, in the county of Cass and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful ImprovementJ in Toy Cannons, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified, soconstructedY and arranged that it Will explode a paper fulminate cap, andWill utilize the products of the explosion to project a b all of cotton, paper or like light materials.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the improved cannon, Fig. 2 is a transverse section, Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the exploding mechanism, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the firing pin supporting cap and the paper cap support detached.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a barrel or body consisting of an outer casing composed of three integral portions, and an inner casing held at the axis of the outer casing. The outer casing or shell consists of a cylindrical body 1, having at one end a fruSto-conical extension 2 and at the other end a cap or cover 3, which is hinged to the body at the lower side thereof as indicated at 4.

A resilient latch 5 is connected to the cap or cover at the upper side thereof, and this latch has a catch Which is adapted to engage an opening 6 in the outer casing to hold the cover to the casing, and an incline 6, coperates with the loWer beveled end of the cap to lift the latch to permit it to enter the opening.

A transverse partition or diaphragmq is arranged Within the body near the end adjacent to the cap, and the inner casing 8, which is the barrel or bore of the gun, is supported by the diaphragm 7 and by a diaphragm 9 at the outer or small end of the frusto-conical portion. The barrel or bore 8 is cylindrical in form and the outer end is flush With the outer end of the diaphragm 9, while the inner end extends through the diaphragm 7.

The outer end of the barrel is open but the inner end is closed With a cap 10, the said cap fitting over the inner end of the barrel, and having a central opening 11, in which is arranged the firing pin 12, the pin being rigidly connected to the cap. The firing pin extends through the cap at both sides thereof, and the cap or cover is provided with a cylinder 13, of the same diameter as the barrel or bore, and held coaxial with the barrel or bore when the cap -or cover is closed.

It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the cap or cover is the segment of a sphere, and the cap or cover has also a tubular extension 14, which extends downwardly from the cylinder 13 near the inner end thereof. A transverse plate 15 supports the inner end of the cylinder 13, the ends of the plate being connected tothe cap, and the cap extends far enough beyond the inner end of the barrel or bore 8 to bring the closed end thereof near to the inner end of the cylinder 13 and to bring the firin pin 12 within the inner end of the said cy inder. y

, A plunger 16 is arranged Within the cylinder 13, and the plunger is normally forced toward the firing pin by a coil spring 17. A rod 18 is passed through a central opening in the cap or cover 3 and through a central opening in the plunger and the rod has a head 19 on the inner side of the plunger.

The outer end of the rod is provided with a hook 21 for convenience in manipulating the same, and a latch 22 is mounted to slide 'in the tubular extension 14, the inner end of the latch passing through an opening in the under side of the cylinder 13 to engage front of the plunger 16 to prevent movement thereof toward the driving pin. The latch 22 has a stop 24 in the form of a collar Within the extension 14, and a coil spring 25 is arranged between the stop 24 and stops 26 in the form of struck up lugs in the interior of the extension. The spring acts normally to press the latch into engaging position, 95

and a handle or grip 27 is connected to the latch and extends through the cap or cover 3 to 1permit the latch to be moved downward y to release the plunger.

Ay tubular casing 28 is arranged Within the barrel or bore at the end adjacent to the'cap, and the casing is supported a little higher at its inner end than at its outer end, by means of a strip 2,9 of', metal held to the barrel or bore and -extending into the cap and having an up-turned lug 30 within the cap. The casing 28 has'lugs 31 at each side extending longitudinally from the casing toward the ca and the paper cap indicated at 32 is held bythe lug 30 and the lugs 31 against that end of the firing pin 12, which is Within the cap.

The front end of the casing 28 rests upon lthe bottom of the barrel or bore, and the projectile shown at 33 is arranged against the said end of the casing. Since the casing y 28 is closed except at its ends, and the cap is fluid tight, the expanding products of the explosion of the cap will be compelled to Y move outwardly through Lthe barrel or bore S, and the said products of the explosion'will carry the projectile out ofthe barrel.n

The operation of the gun proper is as folv lows :-To load the gun, the cap or cover 3 isreleased from the body byfmeans ofthe latch 5, and the said cap or cover is swung down into the dotted line'position of Fig. 1. The cap 10 is then removed after which the -fulminate cap is `placed 'in position supported by the lugsk 3,0-31. i The cap 1 0 is thenreplaced, and the cover is closed. By y .latch is pulled downwardly, pulling the latch downwardly and releasing the plunger. The spring 17 immediately forces the' plunger toward the firing pin and vthe cap is exploded by the firing pinV when the plunger strikesthe pin. f The products of the explosion expanding 'drive the projectile 33 outward at the open end of the cannon.

The improved cannon is supportedY by Wheels 34, the said wheels bein secured to the ends of an axle 35, the sai axle being tubular in the present instance. The tubular axle is journaled in bearing sleeves 36, which are secured to the under sides of ammunition cases or boxes 37, the said boxes being spaced apart from each other lateral-ly to receive the outer casing of the gun between them.

Eachcase has a cover 38, andV the covers are hinged tothe cases at the puter sides of the cases as indicated at 39 to permit the covers to be opened outwardly into thedotted line position of Fig.'2. The gun is mountedbetween the ammunition boxes'the v outer casing being Vprovided with trunnions or journal pins 40,v which are received in openings in the inner sides of the ammunition cases. l

The gun is free to swing on the journal pins 40, and it is held in adjusted position as regards elevation, by means of a rack bar 41. The rackbar is approximately semif circular in cross section, and the side edges thereof are notched as shown at 42. The rack bar is pivot-ed to the gun by means of a bail 43, the bail passing through an openingin the rackbar at the upper end thereof andhaving its ends secured to the outer casing of the gun in any desired manner as for lnstance, by soldering. The lower end of the rack bar passes through a slot or `the capv theihook 21 is formed. w

Opening 44 in the body/45 of a mirth@ said trail consisting of the` body 45 and depending flanges 46. l Y

-The body of the trail decreases in width `rearwardlyand at the rear end of the trail a wheel4 vis arrangedbetween the anges,

Vthe wheel being secured to an axle 48 which 'is jou'rnaled in openings in the flanges. Y The trail consists of two portions arranged atvr an obtuse angle with respect to each other,

and the upper portion extends between the ammunition cases and is secured tothe said cases. The trail is rigid with the ammunition cases, and the Vrack'bar is pressed in a direction to cause the 'notches 42 .thereoir` to engage the rear wallof the slot 45 by means of a spring 49, secured to the under face of the body of the trail.

To adjust the gun as regards elevation, the .i Y

raclrbar is pressed forwardly at itslower end to `release thenotches from the side wall of the slot. When this has-been done the rear rend of the gun may be swung: upward or downward' and when the rack bar is releasedV it will hold the gun at the desired elevation.

In order to permit the Aassembling or dis- Y assembling of the gun "one or both of the wheels is made removable from the axle. When it is required to take the gun apart, theremovable wheel is removed, and the Vaxle iswithdrawn from the bearing sleeves 36 of the ammunition cases. The cases may be now pulled apart to release the gun, after Vthe gun has been released from the trail withdrawing the rack bar.

The flanges 46 of the trail have notches 50 fitting over the axle, and these notches Vprevent movement of the axle longitudinally of the .trail.f. The trail cannot move' upward when yin place because of the ammunition cases. The hook is formed and while yet straight is engaged with the opening of the plunger 16, andthe head 19 is countersunk at the inner end of the plunger. The rod engages the plunger and is held tightly in vconnection therewith by friction. After theV rod has been passed through the opening in I claim 1.r A device of the character specified,

comprising an inner cylindrical casing and an outer inclosing casing, said casings being Hush at one endl and being connected at the said end, a rigid support between'the casv ings near the opposite end, a fluid tight cap engaging the said other end of the finner casing, a cap or cover hinged'to the outer casing at the rear end to opendownwardly, latch mechanismY for holding -the cover closed, a support rigidly fixed within the Vinner casing at the cap, andhaving means at theend adjacent to the cap for supporting a paper'firing cap at the inner end of the firing pin and in contact` with the pin,

the barrel being adapted to receive a projectile at the outer end of the said support, the cap having a cylinder coaxial with the inner casing when the cap is closed, a .spring pressed plunger within the cylinder for engaging the firing pin, means for retracting the plunger, and a releasab'le latch for holding the plunger in set position, the cap of the inner casing being removable with the firing pin to permit the insertion of the eX- provided at its rear end with a wheel, a rack bar pivoted to the gun near the cap or cover and extending through an opening in the trail, and a spring pressing the rack bar into engagement with the 'opening to hold the gun in adjusted position. A

A device of the character specified, comprising an inner cylindrical casing and an outer inclosing casing, said easings being flush atone end and being connected at the said end, a rigid support between the casings near the opposite end, a fluid tight cap engaging the said other end of the inner casing, a cap or cover hinged to the outer casing I at the said end to open downwardly, latch mechanism for holding the cover closed, a support rigidly7 fixed within the inner casing at the cap, and having means at the end adjacent to the cap forpsupportinga paper fulminate cap at the inner end of the firing pin and in Contact With the pin, the barrel being adapted to receive a projectile at the outer end of the said support, the cap having a cylinder coaxial with the inner casing when the cap is closed, a spring pressed plunger within the cylinder for engaging the firing pin, means for withdrawing the' plunger, and a releasable'latch for holding the plunger; in set position, the cap of the inner casing being removable with the ring pin to permit the insertion of the explosive ii.' A device of the character specified, comprising an inner cylindrical casing and an outer inclosing casing, said casings being flush at one end and being connected at the said end, a rigid support between the casings near the opposite end, a fluid tight cap engaging the said other end of the inner casing, a cap or cover hinged to the outer casing at the said end to open downwardly, latch mechanism for holding the cover closed, a support rigidly xed within the inner casing at the cap, and having means at Ythe end adjacent to the cap for supporting a paper fulminate cap at the inner end of the firing pin and in contact with the pin, the barrel .being adapted to receive a projectile at the outer end of the said support,

a spring actuated striker supported by the cap or cover for engaging the outer end of the firing pin to explode the cap, and releasable means for restraining the operation of the striker.

4. A device of the character specified, comprising an inner cylindrical casing and an outer inclosing casing, said casings being flush at one end and being'connected at the said end, a rigid support between the casings near the opposite end, a fluid tight cap engaging the said other end of the inner casing, a cap'or cover hinged to the outer casing at the said end to open downwardly, latch mechanism for holding the cover closed, a support rigidly fixed within the inner casing at the cap, and having means at the end adjacent to the cap for supporting a paper fulminate cap at the inner end of the ring pin and in contact with the pin, the barrel being adapted to receive a projectile at the outer end of the' said support, and striking mechanism carried by the cap for engaging the pin to explode the cap.

5. In a device of the character specified, the combination with the barrel having at one end a detachable cap provided with an axial firing pin, an inclosing casing for the barrel, the end of the barrel remote from the cap opening through the adjacent end of the casing, said casing having a cover at the end adjacent to the capand inclosing ing the4 operation of the striker, and means 4within the barrel for supporting a paper explosive cap for contact with the inner end of the firing pin, said means comprising a block or rod having lugs for supporting the 'cap in upright position, and adapted to limit the inward movement of a projectile at the other end. v

6. In a device of the character specified,

.the combination with the barrel having at one end a detachable cap provided with an axial firing pin, an inclosing casing for the barrel, the end of the barrel remote 'from the cap opening through the adjacent end of the casing, said casing having `a, cover at the end adjacent to the cap and inclosing the cap, said cover having a spring controlled striker for striking the firing pin, and having a releasable latch for restraining the operation of the striker, and means within the barrel for supporting a paper explosive cap .in contact with the inner end of the firing pin.

7. A toy cannon, comprising a barrel, a

'trail providediwith' a pairV pf laterally spaced ammunition cases. each case having onthe under face thereof a bearing sleeve, and the'sleeves being vin alinement, and an axle pas si11g through the sleeves and pr o vided w1th Wheels at its ends, and means 1n eonnection with the barrel and the trail for permitting the vbarrel to be adjusted with'.

respect to lthe trail.

ZACHARI'ML E. HOUSE.

Witnesses:

RAY B. PHELPS, C. M. TA YL0R. 

